Grading Phillies trade deadline moves as regular season nears end

The Phillies appear to have made quality trade deadline acquisitions in 2022.

With Major League Baseball’s regular season ending soon, it’s time to look at how the Philadelphia Phillies trade deadline acquisitions have fared so far in red pinstripes.

Phillies receive OF Brandon Marsh for C Logan O’Hoppe

One of the more ridiculed trades at the deadline, some people could not fathom why the Phillies would trade one of their top prospects for a middling outfielder with a terrible strikeout rate. Despite concerns, Marsh has made his playing time quite valuable.

His OPS in Philly is more than .100 points higher than his as an Angel, and he also is a very strong defender. He has transitioned into a better hitter thus far, even cutting his strikeout rate from 40.0% to 30.6%.

With star catcher J.T. Realmuto locked up until 2025, there were questions about how O’Hoppe could be a part of the Phillies’ future. Although more value likely could have been brought in with a prospect of his caliber, Marsh has made for a fine acquisition and is a 24-year-old under contract for five more years.

Grade: B

Phillies receive RHP Noah Syndergaard for OFs Mickey Moniak, Jadiel Sanchez

Right-handed starting pitcher Noah Syndergaard has provided some quality starts in his short tenure, but his overall productivity has been very limited. In eight starts and 47 innings pitched in red pinstripes, he has posted a pedestrian 4.79 ERA, to go along with 26 strikeouts.

As someone who Phillies fans have seen quite often when pitching for their NL East-rival New York Mets, Syndergaard’s performance has been far from what they might remember him to be.

Recently ceding his rotation spot for Zack Wheeler, it remains to be seen if Syndergaard can flourish in a long relief role. It is a lot to ask for from a player who has only come out of the bullpen twice in his MLB career. If the Phillies can clinch a Wild Card spot before the end of the season, expect Syndergaard to start in at least one more game

Former No. 1 draft pick Mickey Moniak needed a change of scenery one way or another, although he has actually played stellar baseball for the Los Angeles Angels, either. Jadiel Sanchez was a top-20 prospect within the organization.

The Phillies were in dire need of starting pitching, so this made a lot of sense on paper. Syndergaard just has not panned out as expected. He will likely play elsewhere next year.

Grade: C

Phillies receive RHP David Robertson for RHP Ben Brown

David Robertson has always been a solid major-league reliever, and he still is at the ripe age of 37. He and Seranthony Domínguez have received most of the closing duties in recent weeks.

In 18 1/3 innings since the trade deadline, D-Rob holds a 2.95 ERA and is 6-for-8 in save opportunities. He has been involved in some late-game blunders, but that seems to be the norm for relievers when they touch down in the City of Brotherly Love.

Ben Brown now ranks as the No. 7 prospect in the Chicago Cubs minor-league system, and he displayed lots of promise with his slim 6-foot-6 frame and mid-90s fastball. However, Robertson has been a vital addition to an often struggling Phillies pen and quickly garnered the trust of interim manager Rob Thomson during his second stint in Philly.

Grade: B+

Phillies receive INF Edmundo Sosa for LHP JoJo Romero

If it weren’t for the unfortunate injury that Edmundo Sosa recently sustained, we could be talking about how he can contribute to the Phillies’ current stretch of tough games. Nonetheless, this was an under-the-radar move that has turned out beautifully for Dombrowski.

After struggling offensively with St. Louis, Sosa’s bat was not expected to make much of an impact on the Phillies lineup. His .515 OPS as a Cardinal left a lot to be desired. He is typically known for his exceptional defense, posting 13 DRS across three different infield positions in the past two seasons. Once Sosa settled into his new home in Philly, he immediately “turned on the jets.”

Sosa has a .937 OPS for the Phillies, which includes a .315 batting average. His WRC+ of 158 is a tremendous leap from it just being at 49 with his prior team, and he has produced 10 extra-base hits in a mere 54 at-bats, tagging along 13 RBI. He has provided a spark that was missing for a long time.

JoJo Romero had been in Philadelphia’s organization for over six seasons, but he held very little value to them with a 7.89 ERA across three seasons in the majors. Sosa has been an incredible pickup, and the hope is that he can return from his hamstring injury before the postseason begins.

Grade: A+